Definition of "Conventional mortgage"

Yolanda La Luz real estate agent

Written by

Yolanda La Luzelite badge icon

Realty Executives Cornerstone

A mortgage requiring a substantial down payment. It is usually only available to those having good credit, and has fixed monthly payments for the life of the loan. It usually has a 30 year period of fixed interest rates discharged on an amortized basis with equal monthly payments. The term conventional refers to a mortgage that is not FHA-insured or VA-guaranteed. Since there is no third person or entity to insure or guarantee the mortgage, the lender assumes full risk of default by the borrower. A lenders decision to make a conventional mortgage is usually dependent upon: (1) the value of the property being used to secure the debt and (2) the credit and income position of the borrower. As more and more conventional mortgages have been made, the loan to value ratio (relationship between the amount borrowed and the appraised value of the property) has continued to increase, even though most lenders still limit the amount they will lend to no more than 80% of value unless private mortgage insurance is carried. This down payment required is higher than with either VA or FHA loans. As the market price of residential real estate has continued to increase, a larger cash down payment has been required of the borrower, and thus many people have been eliminated from financing with a conventional mortgage. With both guaranteed and insured mortgages, people have been able to purchase real estate with a smaller cash down payment.

image of a real estate dictionary page

Have a question or comment?

We're here to help.

*** Your email address will remain confidential.
 

 

Popular Real Estate Terms

That portion of a loan collaterized by a leased property extending beyond the expiration date of the lease. For example, a lending institution collaterizes a 20-year loan on a commercial ...

property that has been segregated into parts. ...

Giving one's approval to another, e.g., a fiduciary, to manage his or her finances. ...

Unintentional error. An example is a house that the seller wants $1,000,000 for but it is mistyped as $100,000. An error may be unilateral or mutual. Some types of errors are the basis to ...

individual who purchases property for another for the purpose of not identifying to the seller and other interested parties the real identity of the true acquirer. The individual who makes ...

Title granted to those having expertise in valuing homes by the American Institute of Real Estate Appraisers. ...

Agreement in which some terms are yet to be carried out. The contract is still not fully completed. ...

Charge by the lender to keep credit available to the potential borrower. Once the loan is made, interest is charged on the amount borrowed. Real estate businesses often need money available ...

Air penetrating crevices in a structure. Penetration of water into the earth or through a structure. For example, water infiltrates the basement of a house causing it to be damp. ...

Popular Real Estate Questions